379 



BRITISH CROPS OF 1903. 



The preliminary statement of the produce of crops in Great 

 Britain in 1903 was issued by the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries early in December. The estimated average yields of 

 the cereal, root, potato, and hay crops during the current year 

 given therein are summarised in the following table and com- 

 pared with the average results of the preceding ten years : — ■ 



Crop. 



Yield 



per 

 Acre 

 in 1903, 



Above or 



Below 

 Average of 

 1893-1902. 



Crop. 



Yield 

 per 

 Acre 

 in 1903. 



Above or 



Below 

 Average of 

 1S93-1902. 





Bushels. 



Bushels. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Wheat ... 



30-13 



- 0*40 



Potatoes ... 



5 -i6 



- 0-73 



Barley 



32-00 



- 0-83 



Turnips and Swedes 



12-43 



- 0-45 



Oats 



39 70 



+ 1-05 



Mangold 



17-90 



+ 0 11 



Beans 



31-19 



+ 4\i2 





Cwts. 



Cwts. 





Hay, from clover, Sec. 



30-44 



+ 2-48 



Peas 



26-56 



4- o-66 











Hay, from permanent 



25-58 



+ 3'26 









grass 













Hops 



878 



- 0-18 



It will be seen that the relative production of wheat, barley, 

 potatoes, turnips and swedes, and hops was less, and that of 

 oats, beans, peas, mangold and hay greater than the decennial 

 average. It has necessarily to be borne in mind that these 

 figures represent only the estimated quantities grown, and 

 take no account of the condition in which the crops were 

 eventually secured. The reports furnished by the estimators 

 with their returns indicate a very general depreciation in the 

 marketable value of the crops, caused by the excessive rainfall 

 of the year. 



